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<br />t~ <br />to <br />~ <br />-. <br /> <br />c <br /> <br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION REPORT <br /> <br />after the spring snowmelt, the daily run-off was sufficient during every <br />year of the study period to meet the requirements of the La Barge project. <br />The studies showed, however, that some shortages could be expected if, as <br />is presently planned, the Seedskadee project were built downstream with a <br />water right equal in priority to that of the La Barge to provide direct <br />flow diversions to 60,720 acres of land. If both projects had been in <br />operation during the study period with equal priority of water ri/?11t, they <br />would have experienced shortages in 1931, 1933, 1934, and 194t of 19.8, <br />4.7, 42.1,and 31.8 percent, respectively. The La Barge project muld have <br />received an average annual supply of 24,300 acre-feet, 14,200 acre-feet of <br />which would have been consumed. The relll9.ining 10,100 acre-feet would have <br />returned to the river and been available for use below the project. The <br />water consumed would be a part of the water apportioned the State of <br />Wyoming by the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact. None of the return flow <br />would be usable on the project lands. <br /> <br />Construction of the project would not prevent development of large- <br />scale water projects in the Green River Basin in Wyoming. Subsequent <br />upstream projects, however, would require storage for utilization of <br />spring flood flows not required by the La Barge and Seedskadee projects. <br />Return flows from future upstream developments would tend to stabilize <br />the late-season supply for the Seedskadee and La Barge projects. <br /> <br />Water at the La Barge diversion site has not been analyzed but is <br />believed to be at least equivalent in quality to water at the domstream <br />Seedskadee diversion site \\d1ich was periodically tested in 1947 during the <br />Seedskadee project investigations. Water taken from the Seedskadee site <br />was found to be of excellent quality for irrigation on the basis of stand- <br />ards fixed by the Regional Salinity and Rubidoux Laboratory, United States <br />Department of Agriculture. Some biological treatment would no doubt be <br />required before the water could be used for culinary purposes. <br /> <br />Numerous rights have been established for use of water from the <br />Green River and its tributaries. These ri/?11ts were recognized in <br />determining the flow available for the project. A water right for the <br />La Barge project can be obtained under Wyoming law. <br /> <br />Lands <br /> <br />Topography, Soils, and Drainage <br /> <br />Lands in the project area lie on benches or river terraces parallel <br />to and west of the Green River. The benches slope gently toward the river <br />and are intersected at frequent intervals by natural drains. Surface soils <br />are underlain by 5 to 15 feet of porous river sands and gravels \\d1ich are <br />in turn underlain by impervious or slightly pervious sandstone or shale. <br /> <br />5 <br />